Gifts Today magazine

Key trend spotlight at BLE 2017

The Licensing Academy at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) will focus on the key trends affecting the future of licensing in Europe, including Brexit. Gaming and toys will also feature highly on the agenda. The definitive event for the European licensing industry, it takes place 10-12 October at Olympia London.

European-focused sessions include:

· Licensing in Europe – the background, the present and the future including the potential implications of Brexit - Kelvyn Gardner, Managing Director, LIMA UK

“The one word that’s become synonymous with Brexit over the last year is ‘uncertainty' and that's just as true for the licensing industry as it is for everyone else. My session at BLE will spell out what the potential implications of Brexit could be for licensees, licensors and retailers and, hopefully, how we can all navigate our way through any challenges it throws our way, dependent on the various potential outcomes at the end of the negotiation period,” says Kelvyn Gardner, MD, LIMA UK.

Gaming will take centrestage at The Licensing Academy in the day one keynote panel Gaming: dispelling the myths featuring:

Other sessions on The Licensing Academy programme include the popular Introduction to licensing delivered by Kelvyn Gardner; Brand Licensing: The seven deadly sins from John Burns at Gateley, and What role does subscription VOD currently play in our television viewing habits? presented by GfK’s Sam Tuck.

The full programme is listed below. All sessions are free to attend and will be available on a first come first serve basis. Visitors can register for Brand Licensing Europe at www.brandlicensing.eu/register

TUESDAY10.00 – 10.30Introduction to Licensing Kelvyn Gardner, Managing Director, LIMA UK11.00 – 11.45The UK videogames industry. What do you really know about this market and are there opportunities you should be exploring?Dorian Bloch, Business Group Director, GfK12.00 – 13.00KEYNOTE PANEL: Gaming: dispelling the myths13.30 – 14.15European case study TBC

THURSDAY 10.00 – 10.30Licensing in Europe – the background, the present and the potential future including the potential implications of BREXITKelvyn Gardner, Managing Director, LIMA UK10.45 – 11.15Brand Licensing: The Seven Deadly Sins John Burns, Partner, Gateley PLC11.30 – 12.00What role does subscription VOD currently play in our television viewing habits?Samantha Tuck, Associate Director, GfK12.15 – 13.00Assembling a Pan-European Licensing ProgrammeTeri Niadna, Managing Director, Brandgenuity Europe 13.15 – 14.00License This! finale The License This! competition offers new creative concepts the chance to break into the global licensing industry. It is open to any new artwork, brand or character that has no merchandising deals already in place or pending. During this session, the shortlisted concepts will present to a panel of judges and the winner will be announced.